By Isabella Kaminski

Under the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Technip will join Iberdrola in a consortium bidding for up to 1.25 GW of offshore wind capacity in two of five sites that the French government has offered for competitive tender in the first phase of its plans to reach a national target of 6 GW by 2020.

The deal was signed at French firm Technip’s new centre of engineering excellence for offshore wind in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Thierry Pilenko, Chairman and CEO of Technip, says: "This opening and the MoU signature with Iberdrola both confirm that Technip is strongly committed to the development of renewable energies.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) and head of Iberdrola's Glasgow-based Global Offshore Division, says: "Technip's new offshore wind offices in Aberdeen are a welcome addition to Scotland's growing renewable energy sector. We established our global headquarters for offshore wind in Glasgow over a year ago, and since then a number of world leading companies have set-up offices in Scotland.

“We are also very pleased to welcome Technip into our consortium to bid for offshore wind projects in France. As a well-established company, with a strong presence in France and in all major energy capitals they are an ideal partner to help us bid for these major projects."